Simon Cowell, who played an integral role in the rise of One Direction in the early 2010s, has issued a statement expressing condolences regarding Liam Payne’s death. “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,

Simon Cowell, who was a judge on 'The X Factor' when One Direction was formed, shared his emotional reaction to Liam Payne’s death

"Our thoughts are with Liam's friends, family and all who loved him," Fremantle UK shared in a statement to PEOPLE Britain's Got Talent, the popular television talent series created by and featuring Simon Cowell,